CHAPTER 8: HERMIONE
"Hermione!" Ginny calls. I don't say anything back because right now, I'm packing in secret. I'm leaving for my parents, something I should have done a long time ago.
"Hermione?" I hear the door creak open, and before I can grab my wand and lock it, she flings it open and sees me holding a folded shirt over my trunk. It's probably a really hilarious scene: We're both completely still.
"I'm sorry…" I start, but Ginny waves me off.
"It's fine. I assume you're going to stay with your mum and dad?"
I nod. She knows about Viktor and all that drama, but she doesn't know why it all happened.
… Okay, she probably knows what happened, because it's a little obvious, but I haven't confirmed any of her suspicions.
The truth is, I can't stay around here anymore. I can't open the Daily Prophet without seeing his face, or reading his name. I can't look at my friends without remembering all the memories we had. I can't put myself back together in this place; I can't forget him when he's finding anyway to fight back into my memory.
"Hey, listen." She grabs my arm, and takes the shirt from my hand. "Why don't you forget this for now? We can go out to eat, or something, and tomorrow, I'll help you pack."
I smile at her, and tears are welling in my eyes again. I rub them away, and try to say something, but my mind goes blank. I'm not sure how to respond, so I nod. She nods back, and stands up.
"Well, the Leaky Cauldron's not coming to us!"
"A pub? As in, drinking?" I ask, the tears disappearing. "I don't know if that's the best idea…"
Ginny laughs. "To be honest, you should have done this a long time ago, as in, when you first showed up here."
I feel my face flush. "No way."
"Yes, way. Besides, I told Hannah we'd stop by to visit her, and I'd rather not be a dishonest woman, hmm?"
I can't believe I'm here. I can't believe Ginny convinced me to go.
I'm sitting here, staring at her and Luna. She's working her way towards getting plastered, while Luna's staring at me, dreamily.
"I think you and Ron are a cute couple." She says.
I glance at Ginny, who shrugs, and turn to Luna. "We broke up, Luna."
Luna smiles. "I know. But you're still a cute couple."
I shake my head, and start getting up when Luna opens her mouth, again. "Don't you think you guys will ever get back together?"
My mind goes completely blank. I want to scream at her and make her feel like the idiot she is, but at the same time, I start to realize that I want nothing more than to go find Ron, apologize, and put this silly mess behind us. I sit back down.
"When's Hannah coming to meet you, huh?" I ask, looking at my red-headed friend. She shrugs.
"You're being really boring, Hermione. You haven't even drank anything." Ginny's voice is slightly slurred, and I stifle a smile, despite the unfortunate revelation I've just had.
"No, no, can't you see? I'm sitting here, drunk and single and ready for a crazy night!" I shout, trying to be funny, when I notice that neither of them are looking at me. As a matter of fact, they're looking behind me. I follow their eyes and see Harry and Ron standing behind me.
Wait, what?
Ron Weasley is standing behind me. He's got a lot of stubble, as if he hadn't shaved in ages, and his skin is rather sallow looking, but it's definitely him. I gasp, and feel my face flush.
"Oh, Merlin…" I mumble, and I'm about to jump up to leave, for a second time, when Ron grabs my arm…
CHAPTER 9: RON
I'm sitting in my room, staring at the bloody ceiling, and weighing out my options.
I could go and drink some more.
I could get a hold of Harry and ask him over.
I could go home, have mum cook me some food.
Nothing sounds too appealing, but I decide my safest option would be to get Harry's scruffy arse over here, so I get up to go to the Chimney. Right when I reach it, I hear a loud pop behind me, so I turn around, and see my best mate standing there.
"Bloody Hell, you scared me!" I say, grasping my chest.
Harry laughs, but immediately stops, his eyes like saucers. I scowl at him. "What?"
"N-nothing." Harry gulps. "Er. When's the last time you'd eaten, Ron?"
I roll my eyes into my head to think for a moment. "I'm not sure, you know."
"You look really awful, mate." He says, shaking his head. I scowl at him even more.
"Way to let it all out, Harry. Does this dress make my arse look big, too?"
Harry doesn't laugh, but sighs. "Listen, I think you need to get out."
"I was just about to invite you out, so." I look at him warily. "What were you planning on doing?"
"I dunno. Drinking?" Harry shrugs. I smile at him.
"You said the magic word."
"Where are we going?" I ask as Harry and I Apparate into an alley. I'm far too tired to tell where I am.
"The Leaky Cauldron." He answers, stiffly.
"Er… What's wrong with the Three Broomsticks?" He's taken off down the alley, now, and I'm following close behind.
"Ron, just because you've got a crush on Madam Rosmerta doesn't mean I enjoy spending the evening gossiping with her. Besides… I'm… I'm meeting Neville tonight." Harry avoids my eyes.
"Are you lying to me, mate?" I ask. "Why is Neville at the Cauldron, anyways?" I squint my eyes.
"Well, Ron, seeing as how he fancies Hannah and needs a little help catching her attention, we figured it'd be good to start at her work-place." Harry smiles, and pulls the door open.
I'm about to retort, when I see a familiar, bushy head of hair sitting at table in the middle of the room.
"Harry?" I ask, my voice suddenly going hoarse.
"Oh, is that Ginny? And Luna! Let's go see them!" Harry's voice has gone all nervous. He's grabbed my arm and is dragging me across the room. By the time we reach their table, I can definitely tell it's Hermione. Luna's looking up and smiling at me, while Ginny looks up at Harry with glazed over eyes.
I'm so done here… I'm ready to leave. "No, no, can't you see? I'm sitting here, drunk and single and ready for a crazy night!"
Wait, what?
Hermione has now turned and is facing me, her brown eyes wide with surprise. Her face
goes as red as my hair, I reckon.
"Oh, Merlin…" She's getting up, and going to leave me again. I grab her arm.
A/N: Oh, I'm so evil! I love cliff hangers, unless, well, I'm the reader.
Ginny and Harry are so sneaky, no? I feel like, at first, they'd probably not want to meddle, but I think they realize how miserable their friends are, and I'm sure at one point or another, they decided to fix it all up. Who knew they were such good liars? :P
Basically, there's one chapter left. It's not a song chap, and it's not from either of their POV. It'll be a third person omniscient one, my fave!
Hope you enjoy! :D
